Money
7 best apps to help you track your budget
A good budgeting app is the easiest way to get a grip on your cash, and we’ve rounded up the best ones in Australia.
By Maddie Southall
For most of us, creating a budget sounds about as fun as taking the bins out. Hooray!
It brings up images of dull spreadsheets, giving up lattes and kissing goodbye to anything that gives us a small bit of joy through the day. But budgeting isn’t really about deprivation, it’s actually simply being aware of where our money is going. We need to have a clear picture of this so we can decide if it’s heading to the right place. That’s where a good app comes in.
It’s like having a personal finance assistant in your pocket, doing all the boring tracking for you. We’re not suggesting you need to track every flat white, but seeing your spending patterns in one place can make a real difference. With the cost of, well, everything going up, knowing exactly where your cash is flowing is the key to making smarter decisions.
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Here are our top picks for budgeting apps that help you manage your money, minus the headache. And who knows, you might be able to use your newfound savings to fund your next holiday?
1. Frollo
Best for: Getting a complete (and free) picture of everything
Frollo is a true game-changer and probably the best direct replacement for the old Pocketbook. It’s one of Australia's first apps to use Open Banking (which is super secure, government-regulated tech) to pull all your accounts - savings, transactions, super, loans, and investments - into one clean dashboard. It auto-categorises your spending, helps you set goals, and gives you a clear look at your total net worth.
2. WeMoney
Best for: A full financial "wellness" check-up, not just a budget
WeMoney is like a financial health coach in your pocket. It tracks your spending, but its real power is in showing you the big picture. It pulls in your credit score, tracks your net worth over time, and lists all your debts (like car loans or credit cards) in one place. It also has a community feature where members can anonymously share tips and wins. It’s a brilliant all-rounder if you want a holistic view of your money.
3. YNAB (You Need A Budget)
Best for: Serious budgeters who want to fundamentally change their habits
You’ll hear YNAB mentioned with the kind of reverence usually reserved for a cult-classic movie, and for good reason. It’s less a tracker and more a "forward-looking" method. It makes you "give every dollar a job" before you spend it. It has a bit of a learning curve and does have a subscription fee (after a free trial), but its fans are die-hard evangelists who swear it completely changed their financial lives.
4. Goodbudget
Best for: The modern version of the "cash in envelopes" system
Remember when your parents or grandparents had different envelopes stuffed with cash for 'Groceries', 'Bills', and 'Fun Money'? Goodbudget is the digital version. You manually portion out your income into different digital "envelopes" at the start of the month and then track your spending from each one. It’s simple, very hands-on, and perfect for visual budgeters who want to feel where their money is going.
5. Spendee
Best for: A sleek interface and managing shared finances
If you find most finance apps too clunky or corporate-looking, Spendee is a breath of fresh air. It’s got a clean, colourful, and intuitive interface that just makes sense. Its real superpower is the "Shared Wallets" feature, making it a dream for couples or housemates trying to track shared expenses without the passive-aggressive text messages. It also handles multiple currencies well, making it great for travel.
6. Buddy
Best for: Splitting bills and budgeting with a partner
As the name suggests, Buddy’s main game is helping you manage money with, well, a buddy. You can create shared budgets, sync transactions with your partner, and easily see who paid for what and who owes who. It’s the perfect solution for couples who want to combine some (but not all) of their finances, or for keeping track of a friend group holiday fund.
7. Your bank's app (eg., My AMP, CommBank, Up, Ubank)
Best for: simple, automatic tracking with minimal extra effort
Honestly, you might already have a great tool in your pocket if you’re not looking to reinvent the wheel. While new banks like Up are famous for their slick, real-time tracking, most banks have seriously lifted their game. Bank apps (like My AMP) now automatically categorise your spending, show you "spending spikes" from last month, and can flag upcoming bills. It’s not a full-blown budgeting tool, but it’s a pretty effortless first step to seeing where the money is actually going.
Feature image: iStock/zamrznutitonovi
This article contains general information only. It is not financial advice and is not intended to influence readers’ decisions about any financial products or investments. Readers’ personal circumstances have not been taken into account and they should always seek their own professional financial and taxation advice that takes into account their financial circumstances, objectives and needs.
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